Arab Muslim Student Injured in Potential Hate Crime Hit-and-Run at Stanford University

(CNN) — Stanford University is currently investigating at least five potential hate crime incidents that have occurred since the onset of the Israel-Hamas war. One of these incidents involves an Arab Muslim student who was allegedly the victim of a hit-and-run crash, according to the university’s public safety department.

The incident occurred on Friday afternoon when the student was struck by a car. The victim reported that the driver intentionally made eye contact, accelerated, and then shouted, “f*** you people” before driving away, as stated in a news release from the Stanford Department of Public Safety.

As a potential hate crime, the hit-and-run is now being investigated by the California Highway Patrol, the agency responsible for handling all injury traffic incidents on the campus, according to the same release.

Fortunately, the victim’s injuries were not life-threatening, as confirmed by the university.

In the victim’s description provided in an alert published on Stanford’s website on Saturday, the driver is described as a white male in his mid-20s with short dirty-blond hair and a short beard. The suspect was wearing a gray shirt and round-framed eyeglasses. The vehicle involved in the incident is believed to be a 2015 black Toyota 4Runner or possibly a newer model, according to the alert.

Stanford’s president, Richard Saller, and provost, Jenny Martinez, expressed their condemnation of the hit-and-run in a joint statement released on Friday. They stated, “We are profoundly disturbed to hear this report of potentially hate-based physical violence on our campus. Violence on our campus is unacceptable, and hate-based violence is morally reprehensible.”

The Council on American–Islamic Relations San Francisco Bay Area issued a statement on Saturday, emphasizing the need to address the growing Islamophobia and hatred that are affecting communities. They expressed concern about the incident at Stanford, stating that it underscores the urgency of addressing these issues.

The public safety authorities at Stanford are encouraging anyone with information regarding the incident to come forward. CNN has reached out to the California Highway Patrol for further details and updates on the investigation.

Increase in Potential Hate Crimes Reported at Stanford

According to Stanford’s public safety authorities, a series of potential hate crime incidents began on October 15. A group of students who identified as Arab, Muslim, and/or Palestinian reported being shoved by another student after they tried to add and remove posters from a specific area on campus. The university’s Protected Identity Harm reporting site has confirmed that this incident is being investigated as a hate crime.

The following day, a student of color was targeted near a Palestinian liberation display at the White Plaza location on the Palo Alto campus. Another student allegedly spat at the victim and used the word “disgusting” before attempting to spit at them again. The Protected Identity Harm reporting site emphasizes that spitting on someone, particularly when motivated by hate, is an egregious behavior that will not be tolerated.

On October 18, a group of Arab, Muslim, and/or Palestinian students gathered in the same White Plaza area of the campus. During this gathering, someone deliberately ran over a tote bag containing a computer and other valuable items. The tote bag was decorated with a design in the shape of Palestine. The university’s public safety officials are currently investigating this incident as a hate-motivated crime.

Another potential hate crime occurred on October 28 when a mezuzah, a sacred religious symbol, was removed from the door of a Jewish student’s residence. School officials have referred to this act as a form of intimidation against the Jewish community.